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ational Police chief Gen. Sutarman said on Friday that he supported the disbandment of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI).

Sutarman said that the Jakarta Police had submitted a recommendation to the Law and Human Rights Ministry to disband the organization, a decision made only a week after the police arrested 20 members of the FPI during a protest outside City Hall that turned violent.

Speaking at the National Police headquarters, Sutarman added that the FPI should have no place in the country if it continued to promote violence.

He said that the government '€œmust not lose in its fight against hard-liners.'€

'€œWe allow everyone to hold demonstrations, but they should not violate the law. If the FPI creates unrest through violence, it should not have a reason to exist anymore,'€ Sutarman said.

Last week, the Jakarta-based FPI protested in front of the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) office against the inauguration of Basuki Tjahaja '€œAhok'€ Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, as Jakarta governor.

The protest turned violent as they threw animal feces and rocks, which they brought to the scene, at police officers. Sixteen police officers were injured and several cars were damaged during the protest.

One police officer sustained wounds to his hands from a sword. A number of FPI members were then detained at the Jakarta Police headquarters, including FPI secretary-general Novel Bamu'€™min, who turned himself in after being on the run for almost a week.

Novel, who was allegedly the mastermind of last week'€™s demonstration, could face six years'€™ imprisonment for provoking others to violate laws under Article 160 of the Criminal Code. Another high-ranking FPI member, Shahabudin Anggawi, could face the same sentence.

In the wake of the incident, Ahok has said that community organizations that promote violence such as the FPI should be disbanded.

Ahok said that only the police had ability to disband the FPI because even outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was powerless against it.

Sutarman said that even after the police submitted its recommendation for the disbandment of the FPI to the Home Ministry, the final decision would be in the hands of court judges.

'€œThe Jakarta Police can only submit a recommendation, the final say is with the court,'€ Sutarman said.

Article 70, paragraph 1 of Law No. 17/2013 stipulates that the disbandment of a mass organization can only carried out by a district court based on a written request from the Law and Human Rights Minister.

Commenting on the FPI'€™s violent protest, president-elect Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo has said that he will enforce the law on any community organization that provoked unrest. '€œThose who violate regulations will be punished,'€ he said.

Earlier on Friday, FPI representatives met with members of the City Council and vowed to continue holding protests in front of the council building every Friday until Ahok steps down from office.

'€œWe will stand here every Friday in protest until Ahok resigns from his post,'€ said Jafar Shodiq, one of FPI members attending the meeting. (idb)